Turner Contemporary

History

Creating a space to celebrate Turner’s association with Margate was the idea of local resident and former Chairman of the Margate Civic Society, John Crofts. He, along with a number of active members of the community, created the idea of building a centre which would "explore Turner’s connection with Margate”, as well as offer a contemporary art programme.

In 1998, the leader of Kent County Council and representatives of Kent Artists met to discuss the idea. At the same time, plans were being developed to create a cultural quarter in Margate’s Old Town as part of a wider East Kent Cultural Strategy. This led to the idea of a Turner gallery that would stimulate Margate’s culture-led regeneration. In the late 1990s, Kent County Council offered to fund and support the building of a new landmark gallery (later joined by Arts Council England and the South East England Development Agency).

In 2001, Turner Contemporary was officially established, Victoria Pomery was appointed as director and Droit House on Margate’s stone pier was opened as the exhibition space. Situated on the same site as Mrs Booth’s guest house, where Turner stayed when he visited the town, the gallery building designed by David Chipperfield Architects opened on 16 April 2011. Turner had remarked to the influential writer and art critic, John Ruskin, that “…the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe”. This view was important to the building's design; according to director Pomery, "The views from the gallery are the same views that Turner would have seen from his lodging house".

In 2010, Turner Contemporary became an independent charitable trust.

The building

Art critic Waldermar Januszczak said: “Designed by the immaculately progressive David Chipperfield, Turner Contemporary is probably the most elegant gallery interior in Britain right now.” The gallery is the largest exhibition space in the South East outside London.

A competition for the gallery design was originally won by architects Snøhetta + Spence but their proposal was abandoned in February 2006 due to technical problems and escalating costs. Kent County Council remained committed to the project and appointed David Chipperfield Architects in July 2006 to design the gallery. In the same year, exhibitions space expanded to the empty Marks & Spencer shop on Margate High Street, where a number of exhibitions were held. From 2008 to 2011, the building was constructed on Margate’s seafront, and the gallery opened on 16 April 2011.

Positioned on a plinth to protect it from the high winds and sea, the building is made up of six identical interlocking north-facing rectangular blocks. Each block is laid out over two floors and has a pitched roof at a 20 degree angle. The double-height entrance hall window, ground floor events space with external terrace and first floor Clore learning studio all have large north-facing windows offering views out to sea. These capture the ever-changing light conditions, reflecting the range of colours found in Turner’s paintings. The three first floor gallery spaces are lit by natural ‘maritime light’ from the north-facing roof and sky lights. The balcony on this floor cantilevers out over the ground floor gallery, again giving spectacular sea views. The ‘urban window’ of the ground floor, café and shop all face the town to connect the building with its surroundings. To emphasise the changing and dramatic effect of light outside the building, a white opaque glass façade has been used. This will also resist storm and wind damage, humidity and saline intrusion.

Funding

The £17.4m building project was funded by Kent County Council (£6.4m), Arts Council England (£4.1m), the South East England Development Agency (£4m) and Turner Contemporary Art Trust (£2.9m). Thanet District Council provided the land.

Culture-led regeneration

Turner Contemporary have a deep-rooted commitment to growing the prosperity of Margate; since the gallery opened in 2011, Turner Contemporary have led the seaside town’s renaissance. Margate-born artist Tracey Emin said: “The brilliant thing about Turner Contemporary is that it has given people hope that things are going to change here and also put Margate back on the map.”

Margate has become a popular tourist destination because of Turner Contemporary, according to Rough Guide, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, and British Airways. In addition, Turner Contemporary has done much to change perceptions about the area and has put Margate back on the UK cultural map, attracting media attention from across the globe and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge (2015), Her Majesty the Queen (2011) and the Prime Minister (2013) have all visited the gallery.

Temporary exhibitions

The museum emphasizes displaying contemporary art alongside important historical works. Artists exhibited in temporary exhibitions have included Marina Abramovic, Carl Andre, Rosa Barba, Daniel Buren, John Constable, Dorothy Cross, Leonardo da Vinci, Jeremy Deller, Marcel Duchamp, Albrecht Dürer, Tracey Emin, David Hockney, Auguste Rodin, Maria Nepomuceno, Grayson Perry, J. M. W. Turner, Sir Anthony van Dyck.

Community programming

Turner Contemporary's "Art Inspiring Change" project gives primary school children the chance to be leaders in transforming derelict sites in Margate, collaborating with politicians, artists and members of the community. The Youth Navigator programme builds students’ confidence by training them to become gallery guides. In Studio Group, members of the community are leading the process of commissioning a brand new work by a contemporary artist. Blank Canvas, an intergenerational group, meet every week to make and discuss art. The gallery's annual Platform graduate exhibition showcases the emerging talent from Kent Universities, as part of a national competition.